carcass

USAGE SUMMARY

"carcass" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to refer to the body of a dead animal. Example sentence: "The hunters left the bear carcass behind after they had finished skinning it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

After a starter of cold duck's blood in a soup dish topped with golden, crisp fried shallots, we were served a huge platter of roasted carcass, and encouraged to toss the bones over our shoulders for the stray dogs to chew on.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Meanwhile, put the carcass in a deep pan with the rest of the herbs, the carrot and onion.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

All that remained was a skinny carcass of bedraggled wet feathers on a patch of bilberries, the tag's antenna sticking into the air.

The Guardian

Related: Black rhino hunt permit brings $350,000 at controversial auction Last year's permit went for $350,000, but the club has said the rhino hunt has been postponed until the winner receives permission to import the carcass of the animal he will shoot in Namibia.

The Guardian

Four hours of solid stitching later – of slippery hands and yelling at instructions, of holding the needle with pliers because sewing through three layers of shoe leather is basically like pushing a buffalo carcass through a catflap – and the name Simple Way started to look like a sarcastic threat.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I'll add a pile of shredded chicken if there is a carcass left from the weekend, but more often than not I'll do without.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I am eating the rabbit," complete with photos of its carcass on her kitchen counter and her cat scoffing the entrails.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Using the whole bird also allows you to make your own stock from the carcass for the sauce, of which more later.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

And the press came in like birds chewing up what was left of the carcass.

The Guardian

Henry, Roux and Larousse add chicken stock to the sauce, with the last sensibly suggesting making this from the chicken carcass.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

When opposition leader Bill Shorten pledged this week Labor would stand by the party's position of pricing greenhouse gas emissions, Education Minister Christopher Pyne described the policy as "a rotten, stinking carcass" that he would hang around Shorten's neck until the next election in 2016.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "carcass", consider your audience and the context. While technically accurate, it can be a harsh word, particularly when referring to human remains. Choose synonyms like "corpse" or "remains" for sensitive situations.

Common error

Avoid using "carcass" when referring to living beings or abstract concepts. It strictly denotes the dead body of an animal or human, or the structural framework of an object. Using it metaphorically can be confusing or inappropriate.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "carcass" is as a noun, denoting the dead body of an animal or, less commonly, a human. Ludwig examples show its use in describing both literal dead bodies and metaphorical frameworks.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "carcass" functions primarily as a noun, denoting the dead body of an animal or, less frequently, a human. As shown by Ludwig, it can also refer to the framework of a structure. The term carries a neutral tone, frequently appearing in news and media contexts. While grammatically correct, it can evoke strong imagery, making the use of synonyms like "corpse" or "remains" more appropriate depending on the situation. Ludwig's AI confirms that "carcass" is a correct and usable word in written English, typically used to refer to the body of a dead animal.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

corpse

Refers specifically to a human dead body, offering a more specific term than "carcass" when referring to humans.

cadaver

Implies a dead body, often used in a medical or scientific context, providing a formal synonym for "carcass".

remains

A broader term encompassing what is left after death or destruction, less graphic than "carcass".

dead body

A direct and neutral way to refer to a body that is no longer living, avoiding the potentially negative connotations of "carcass".

slaughtered animal

Specifically refers to an animal killed for food, mirroring one of the definitions of "carcass" but with more detail.

animal remains

Focuses on the remains of an animal, suitable when the context requires specifying the type of remains.

framework

Emphasizes the skeletal or structural component, used when "carcass" refers to a building's structure rather than a dead body.

shell

Similar to framework, highlighting the outer structure or covering, applicable when "carcass" describes the basic structure of something.

husk

Implies an empty or discarded outer layer, offering a more metaphorical substitute for "carcass" in some contexts.

wreckage

Focuses on the remnants of something destroyed, suitable when "carcass" refers to something ruined or broken down.

FAQs

How is "carcass" typically used in a sentence?

The word "carcass" typically refers to the dead body of an animal, as in, "The vultures circled above the deer's carcass." It can also refer to the framework of something, though this usage is less common.

Are there more formal alternatives to "carcass"?

Yes, depending on the context, you might use "corpse" (for humans), "remains", or "framework". These alternatives offer varying degrees of formality and specificity.

Can "carcass" be used to describe something other than a body?

While primarily used to describe a dead body, especially of an animal, "carcass" can also refer to the basic structure or framework of an object, like a building or vehicle. However, this usage is less frequent.

What is the difference between "carcass" and "corpse"?

"Carcass" generally refers to the dead body of an animal, while "corpse" specifically refers to a dead human body. The terms are not interchangeable in most contexts.